Failures, nervous nerves, math games: That's what the trainer says

Failures, nervous nerves, math games: That's what the trainer says

FCS coach Ivan Javorcic is currently under a lot of pressure. The Croatian spoke to s+ about the painful loss of Tait, his stay in the stands against Padova and the fateful match in Trieste.

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In one of the brand new boxes in the “Zanvettor” stand, behind a glass wall, the suspended FCS coach Ivan Javorcic watched the league clash against Padova on Saturday. For the 43-year-old Croatian, it was torture not to be on the sidelines in the most important match in the club's history. But after the most important game is before the most important game. Against Triestina, FC Südtirol has the second match point for their historic promotion to Serie B. And this time Javorcic is there again.

The FCS missed out on winning the title early, but also fended off Padova's attack on the top. What will stick with you from the game on Saturday?

Ivan Javorcic: “The confirmation that we are a great team that is not up there by chance. We deserve it. I have an incredible team. We have to be proud that we attracted so many people to the stadium. It was an incredibly great atmosphere. You don't forget these impressions. It was very, very difficult for me not to be able to be with the team at the game. I suffered."

Would Javorcic on the bench instead of in the stands have changed the result?

"No, I do not think so. The players did a great job, they were great. My team on the bench were great – they all deserve a huge compliment. The whole staff did an excellent job.”

A win on Sunday in Trieste means promotion, but even a draw could be enough...

“We are going to Trieste to win. That is our goal. The team also played to win against Padova. It didn't work out on Saturday. But there's nothing wrong with the setting. We showed team spirit and a winning mentality. We will also perform in Trieste on Sunday. Then we’ll see what happens in the end.”

“We have to look after ourselves. If we win in Trieste, we won’t care what Padova does against Virtus Verona.” Ivan Javorcic

Padova opponent Virtus Verona has not lost a game by 3 goals this season. Does that calm you down a bit?

“Anything can happen on the last day of the game. We can't rely on the fact that Virtus Verona has never lost heavily this year. We have to look at ourselves. If we win in Trieste, we won't care what Padova does against Virtus Verona. We have our own destiny in our own hands. We don't have to count when we win. Therefore: Our goal is clear. We want to beat Triestina. Our match plan is to play for a win, certainly not for a draw.”

Will the players in Trieste be informed about the score in Padua?

“These are details that are not crucial. We now have a long week of preparation. It's about how we can beat Triestina. That's what should interest us, not who will inform whom and when what Padova is doing against Virtus Verona. To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it.”

Triestina has been something of a feared opponent of the FCS in recent years. Does that have an influence?

“Such statistics and balance sheets are for the media. That's okay too. I think it's right that this is reported. But for me that's not really important. What counts is the performance on the pitch. We have 90 minutes ahead of us. That's what matters. Whatever was is uninteresting to me.”

Fabian Tait is also missing on Sunday. How much does this failure hurt?

“His failure is a great loss, I won’t deny that. You can't replace Fabian Tait, not with a single player. You compensate for the loss as a team - with organization, discipline, tactics, willingness to run and fighting spirit. We showed on Saturday against Padova that we can do that, that we can bring our identity and our strengths to the pitch even without Fabian.”

In addition to Fabian Tait, suspended attacker Michael De Marchi is also missing from Trieste. Are all other players ready to play?

“Yes, the rest of the team is available, at least at this point. It'll still take a while. I had planned with the entire squad against Padova. Fabian Tait was injured the day before the game. On Tuesday (today, editor's note) we start preparing for the Triestina match. It’s going to be a long week until Sunday.”

The FCS is currently experiencing the most important sporting days in the club's history. Is that the same for you personally?

"Yes, definitely. I had a similar situation in Busto Arsizio. But that was in Serie D, now it's about promotion to Serie B. This is now another level, even if every title fight - no matter which league - brings with it tension and emotions. At Pro Patria we only took the lead in the table on the penultimate matchday and then secured the Serie D championship title and promotion to Serie C in the final round. As a player, I was promoted from Serie B to Serie A twice with Brescia and was able to celebrate promotion from Serie C to Serie B with Arezzo. But as a coach you have a completely different tension, just because of the responsibility. That can’t be compared to my time as a player – not remotely.”

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